Switch device



Dec. 4, 1934. L. o. PARKER 1,983,096

SWITCH DEVICE Filed July 51, 1955 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED s'ra'rss' PATENT OFFICE- meme assignments,

to General Motors Comration, Detroit, Miela, a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1338, Serial No. 682,234

6 Claims. (Cl. 200-42) This invention relates to lock switches for example for controlling the ignition circuit of an automotive vehicle.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a lock switch of durable and economical construction which is adapted to be associated with an armored wire for connecting the switch with an instrument such as an ignition coil or ignition distributor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus showing the present invention as applied to the ignition distributor.

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1' but showing the invention as applied to an ignition coil.

Fig. 3 is a i'ragmentarysection view of the lock switch shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a front end view thereof taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is partly a wiring diagram and partly a section view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section view on the line 68 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the movable contact member of the switch.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1 the structure on which the invention forms a part constitutes a lock switch-A an armored extension cable B connecting the switch with an ignition distributor C. In the form shown in the Fig. 2 the switch A is connected by the armored cable B with an ignition coil D. In either form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is intended that the lock switch A be attached to the switch board of the automobile indicated at E while the part C or D is mounted in a convenient place at a distance from the instrument board.

The lock switch constituting the present invention comprises a tubular case 20 having a portion 21 of smaller diameter and a portion 22 of larger diameter. The portion 21 receives a 50 plug 23 secured in place by screw pin 24. The

plug 23 is provided with grooves 25 for receiving tumblers 26 carried by the rotatable key cylinder 27. When the proper key 28 is inserted within the cylinder 27 the tumblers 26 55 will be so located that the outer surfaces will be flush with the outer cylindrical surface of the cylinder 27 so that the cylinder may be turned by the key. The cylinder 27 is retained within the plug 23 by a washer 27a loosely fitting a groove 29 of the cylinder 27 and dropping by gravity behind a shoulder 30 provided by the plug 23.

The cylinder 27 drives a pin 31 and is provided with a hole 32 for receiving a pin 33 embedded in a block 34 of non-conducting material having an aperture for receiving the pin 31. Thus the block 34 is drivingly connected with the cylinder 27. The block 34 is provided with notches 35 by which the block 34 is drivingly connected with tangs 36 of a triangular shaped contact plate 37 having bosses 38 providing contact elements. The tangs 36 are bent over as shown at 39 to limit movement of the plate 37 away from the block 34 due to the action of a spring 40 located between the block 34 and the plate 37 and received by a recess 41 provided by the block 34. The contacts 38 are adapted to be received by certain ones of six depressions 44 arranged in a circular row in a block 45. Some of these depressions 44 are provided by stationary contacts 48, 47, 48 and 49 said contacts being provided by the heads of rivets 56, 57, 58 and 59 respectively.

The contact rivets 58 and 57 secure in position a terminal clip 60 which extends upwardly and around the peripheral surface of a projection 61 extending from the block 45. The contact rivet 58 secures in position a terminal clip 62 which extends around a projection 63 of the block 45. The rivet 59 is attached to a relatively thin metal terminal clip 64 adapted to be bent into the position 6411 as shown in Fig. 8 in a manner to be described.

The block 45 carrying its contacts and terminal clips is first associated with an armored conduit 13 before being secured to the switch case 20. Conduit B, indicated at 72 in Fig. 3, encloses a wire '70 which connects the lock switch with other apparatus such as ignition distributor C or a coil D. The wire is attached to a terminal clip 71 secured to the rivet 56 to the terminal plate 60. Conduit 72 is attached to a tubular portion 73 of a plug 74 fitting within the larger portion 22 of the switch case 20. The assembly of block 45, wire 70, plug 74 and conduit 72 is then associated with a cap 75 which is adapted to be fitted over the larger portion 22 of the switch case 20, and with an insulating washer 76.

The switch case 20 is provided with longitudinally extended notches 81 and 83 adapted, respectively, to receive the extensions 61 and 62 of the block 45. The subassembly of part 45, 70, 72, '74, '75 and 76 is assembled'with a switch case after having assembled with the latter the lock and movable switch contact. During this assembly the extensions 61 and 63 are passed into and longitudinally extending notches 81 and 83 of the larger portion 22 of the case 20 and the plug 74 is secured within the switch case by deforming portions 84 of the latter into. a groove provided by the plug 74. The cap 75 is secured in position by deforming portions thereof indicated at 85 into depressions 84 of the switch case 20. Thus the assembly of lock switch parts together with the armored conduit 70 is completed. During this assembly the relatively thin terminal clip 64 is bent at 64a in order to connect the contact rivet 59 with the switch case and thus ground the contact 49 through the switch case and the instrument board E. In order to attach the case 20 to the instrument board E the case 20 is welded to a collar 90 provided with apertured cars 91 for receiving suitable attaching means.

In the off position of the switch contact plate 37, the contacts 47 and 49 are connected but not the contacts 46 and 48. Hence the ignition apparatus indicated at 100 and the gasoline gauge wire 101 both connected with the terminal clip 60 are grounded to the engine frame through the instrument board E, the switch case 20 and the grounding clip 64 connected with the contact 49. In the on" position of the switch, the contacts 46 and 48 are connected but not the contacts 47 and 49. Therefore, the battery indicated at 102 and connected with terminal clip 62 will be connected with the ignition apparatus and gasoline gauge.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A lock switch comprising, in combination, a tubular case provided with longitudinal notches extending from one end, a stationary contact support located within the case and having projections extending through said notches, contact rivets extending through said support and providing contact faces on one side thereof, terminal members connected with said rivets and extending adjacent the other side of the contact support to the outside of the case, a movable contact cooperating with the contact faces of said rivets, a lock for operating the movable contact and for closing the end of the case, and means for electrically connecting one of the terminals to and within the case, and said means also closing the other end of the case and for securing the contact support in position.

2. A lock switch comprising, in combination, a tubular case provided with longitudinal notches extending from one end, a stationary contact support located within the case and having projections extending through said notches, stationary contacts carried by said support, terminal members connected with said contacts and extending adjacent said projections of the support to the exterior of the housing, a rotary contact cooperating with thestationary contacts, a lock for operating the rotary contact and for closing one end of the case, and means for closing the other end of the case to elecelements adapted to cooperate with the faces contact support to the outside of the case, a

plate having arms and contact elements, said of the rivets, a block of non-conducting material having notches into which the arms of the plate extend for guidance in rotative movement with respect to the support, a lock for closing one end of the case, said lock having a driving connection with the block, a coiled spring interposed between the block and plate, and means to electrically connect one of the terminals to the case, said means operating to close the other end of the case to secure the support in place and hold the spring under compression whereby the plate is yieldingly and constantly urged against the support and to maintain the driving connection between the lock and the block.

4. A switch comprising, "in combination a tubular case provided with longitudinal notches extending from one end, a stationary contact support within the case and having projections extending through said notches, conductive ele-. ments extending through the support and providing fixed contacts on one side thereof, terminal members on the other side of the support connected with the conductive elements and extending along the projections of the support, a bridging contact cooperating with the fixed contacts, means for operating the bridging contact and closing one end of the case, means for closing the other end of the case and securing the contact support against the bottom of the case notches, and means for pressing one of the terminal members into electrical engagement with the case.

5. A switch structure comprising, in combination, a tubular housing having spaced, longitudinal notches extending from one end of the housing, a partition comprising a disc portion located within the housing and portions received by the notches of the housing, stationary contacts extending through the partition presenting contact faces on one side thereof, terminal members on the other side of the partition connected with the fixed contacts and extending along the said portions to the exterior of the housing, an insulating washer adjacent the partition having portions extending over the terminal members, a cap surrounding the notched end of the housing pressing the insulating washer against the terminals and attached to the housing to secure the partition portions against the closed end of housing notches so that the partition divides the housing into switch and terminal chambers, means within the terminal chamber electrically con-- necting one of the terminals with the housing,

abridgingoontoctintheswitchchnmber,means closingthoendoithoswitchchamberand adapted to actuate the bridsins contact, and means closing the other end of the housing,

saldclosingmeansiorcingoneoithe terminals against the housing whereby that terminal is electrically connected to the housing.

LESLIE O. PARKER. 

